diff --git a/litellm/main.py b/litellm/main.py
index 6e26bf3e5e..a6d94b5171 100644
--- a/litellm/main.py
+++ b/litellm/main.py
@@ -211,9 +211,9 @@ def completion(
             openai.api_type = "openai"
             # note: if a user sets a custom base - we should ensure this works
             api_base = (
-                custom_api_base or litellm.api_base or get_secret("OPENAI_API_BASE")
+                custom_api_base or litellm.api_base or get_secret("OPENAI_API_BASE") or "https://api.openai.com/v1"
             )
-            openai.api_base = api_base or "https://api.openai.com/v1"
+            openai.api_base = api_base
             openai.api_version = None
             if litellm.organization:
                 openai.organization = litellm.organization
diff --git a/litellm/utils.py b/litellm/utils.py
index 309d903963..eac0079cf8 100644
--- a/litellm/utils.py
+++ b/litellm/utils.py
@@ -1444,13 +1444,12 @@ def get_secret(secret_name):
     if litellm.secret_manager_client != None:
         # TODO: check which secret manager is being used
         # currently only supports Infisical
-        secret = litellm.secret_manager_client.get_secret(
-            secret_name).secret_value
-        if secret != None:
-            return secret  # if secret found in secret manager return it
-        else:
-            raise ValueError(
-                f"Secret '{secret_name}' not found in secret manager")
+        try:
+            secret = litellm.secret_manager_client.get_secret(
+                secret_name).secret_value
+        except:
+            secret = None
+        return secret
     elif litellm.api_key != None:  # if users use litellm default key
         return litellm.api_key
     else: